CNA Certification (Written Exam)Infection Control and SafetyHard
A nurse aide witnesses a 9-month-old infant in the facility's family visiting area suddenly unable to cry or cough, with a caregiver panicking nearby. What is the correct emergency technique for a conscious choking infant?
- ADeliver alternating back blows and chest thrusts
- BTurn the infant upside down and shake gently
- CPerform a blind finger sweep of the mouth immediately
- DPerform abdominal thrusts as done for adults
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Deliver alternating back blows and chest thrusts
For a conscious choking infant, the correct technique is alternating 5 back blows between the shoulder blades and 5 chest thrusts, repeated until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive; abdominal thrusts are not used on infants due to organ injury risk.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Shaking an infant can cause serious injury such as shaken baby syndrome and is never appropriate.
- C. Blind finger sweeps risk pushing the object further into the airway and are not recommended.
- D. Abdominal thrusts can cause internal injury in infants and are not recommended.
Infant Choking Response
For a conscious choking infant, rescuers alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts rather than abdominal thrusts used in adults.
- 5 back blows between shoulder blades
- 5 chest thrusts with two fingers on breastbone
- Never perform abdominal thrusts on infants
- Avoid blind finger sweeps
Memory trick: Back and chest, never the belly, for babies it's best.